Wisdom Teeth Removal
Posted September 14th, 2009 @ 04:32pm by Erik J. Barzeski
It turns out that removing four bicuspids when I was a kid is now considered a mildly "controversial" tactic that's not used much anymore, and due to the relatively small size of my mouth and the fact that even the dentists can't easily clean my rear wisdom teeth, I'm having them removed.
Just the uppers. They've been erupted - a term which sounds bad which is actually good - since I was about nine ((Which, yes, is quite early.)), and now they're coming out.
I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but seeing as how they're not impacted and they've been erupted, apparently it won't be too bad. I'm still planning to get nitrous (which isn't "fully asleep" mode, just "stoned" mode), but I hear the soreness from having your mouth stretched and pulled at is the worst thing, along with copious amounts of blood immediately post-surgery.
Whoopeeeeeeee.
Donate Life
Posted 18 Sep 2009 at 8:18pm #
Buy a case of plain popsicles (non-dairy) and stick them in your freezer before you go. When you're well enough to feel like eating or drinking anything, start with those.
I didn't know this the first time I had two wisdom teeth pulled. I found out before the last two came out. It was a much better recovery process.
Posted 20 Sep 2009 at 7:12pm #
Hey, I also got four bicuspids removed when I was a kid. I think it was really necessary, though, since I had a canine overlapping an incisor 🙁
My wisdom teeth were removed when I was 30, in full asleep mode because at least one was quite tough to take out. I'm much better now, see:
Posted 20 Sep 2009 at 11:01pm #
I highly recommend being knocked out (I wasn't). It's not the pain, it's the cracking sound that will live with you for a very long time.
Posted 21 Sep 2009 at 8:30am #
[quote comment="55458"]I highly recommend being knocked out (I wasn't). It's not the pain, it's the cracking sound that will live with you for a very long time.[/quote]
They tell me that's completely unnecessary. They're erupted and they're not crooked - it should be a matter of just popping them out. I'm not sure what "cracking" would need to be done - that sounds like the stuff they have to do for impacted and/or non-erupted teeth.
Posted 21 Sep 2009 at 10:15am #
[quote comment="55465"]I'm not sure what "cracking" would need to be done - that sounds like the stuff they have to do for impacted and/or non-erupted teeth.[/quote]
When I had mine removed they pushed from one side till it broke loose, then pushed from the other side, then pulled it out with pliers. There was a definite crack when they pushed from either side. No pain, just some pressure and a crack.
Of course, YMMV.
Posted 22 Oct 2009 at 4:04pm #
[...] the wisdom teeth I said I needed to have removed? They came out [...]
Posted 05 Mar 2010 at 7:56am #
I absolutely agree with Plaid Cow. The cracking sound is the WORST part. I received no advance warning from my dentist, so I wasn't prepared with music or anything to distract me. It is just as Plaid Cow described. The pushing and pulling makes loud, distinct cracking sounds that you can hear and feel (the feeling is more pressure than pain because of the Novocaine). It is a sickening sound/feeling. I honestly thought my teeth were being cracked all the way through until I saw them afterwards (they were completely intact).
FYI: I've had experience with both ways of removing widsom teeth. I had 2 erupted wisdom teeth pulled by my dentist with only Novocaine (in other words, I was awake). I also had 2 impacted widsom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon; I was put under for the second procedure.
Posted 10 Nov 2010 at 7:12am #
Add me to that list - when I was 14 I had two bicuspids removed because of 'crowding' in my upper jaw.
The dentist who did it used four injections per tooth (I remember the detail of it!) and then pretty efficiently yanked the teeth out.
I wish I (and they) had known then what we do now with braces and retainers. It would have meant a year (or more) of unsightly metalwork in my mouth (less conspicuous these days) but at least I would have kept all my teeth. Also I would not have been left with a slightly sunken look in my cheeks (only slight mind).
Not sure I'm reassuring you here Steven!
But if it's any consolation mine were not 'wisdom teeth', and the pain and blood really were minimal.